Portable umbrella holder

ABSTRACT

An umbrella holder is presented. The umbrella holder includes a container, at least one securing member and a flexible strap. The container is coupled to the securing member and to the flexible strap. The umbrella holder positions an umbrella such that the person can perform a variety of tasks.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a holder, and, moreparticularly, to an umbrella holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An umbrella protects a person from inclement weather (e.g. rain, sleet,snow etc.). An individual may desire to perform one or more tasks whileholding an umbrella. Satisfactorily performing the task may be difficultwhen at least one hand is holding the umbrella. It is thereforedesirable to have a device that addresses this limitation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1A is a front perspective view of an exemplary umbrella holder;

FIG. 1B is a front perspective view of an exemplary umbrella holder withan umbrella handle positioned therein;

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an exemplary umbrella holder with anautomatic umbrella positioner;

FIG. 2B is a block diagram of an automatic umbrella positioner;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary position detector; and

FIG. 4 depicts a flow diagram of a method to form an exemplary umbrellaholder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the embodiment is merely exemplary innature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, itsapplication, or uses. For purposes of clarity, the same referencenumbers are used in the drawings to identify similar elements. As usedherein, the term “module” or “controller” refers to an applicationspecific integrated circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, a processor(shared, dedicated, or group) that execute one or more software orfirmware programs, a combinational logic circuit, or other suitablecomponents that provide the described functionality.

The present invention is directed to a portable umbrella holder. Theumbrella holder includes a container, at least one securing member, anda flexible strap. The container is coupled to the securing member and tothe flexible strap. The umbrella holder securely positions an umbrellasuch that the person can freely perform a variety of tasks.

FIGS. 1A through 1C depict details of a portable umbrella holder 10.Umbrella holder 10 includes a cylindrically-shaped container 12, one ormore securing members 16, and a flexible strap 20. Flexible strap 20 isconnected to container 12 by inserting strap 20 through aperture 21along container 12. Strap 20 can be temporarily secured around aperson's torso through a latch (not shown). Container 12 includes a topend 70 (also referred to as a first end) configured to receive andsecurely hold a base 50 of an umbrella 52. Optionally, container 12includes an inflexible inner container 14 to further securely hold base50 of umbrella 52. At least one or more securing members 16A-D (e.g.screws, fasteners, etc.) are coupled to container 12. A substantiallycircular flat base 18 of securing members 16A-D, which extends throughcontainer 12 and inner container 14, is configured to directly contactbase 50 of umbrella 52. For example, base 18 may comprise flexiblematerial able to form some grasping characteristics to hold onto base 50of umbrella 52. Base 50 of umbrella 52 optionally extends through anaperture 13 at a bottom end 72(also referred to as a second end) ofcontainer 12.

A person puts his or her arms through shoulder straps 22 and wrapsflexible strap 20 around his or her torso. A latch (not shown) istemporarily closed in order to secure strap 20 to the person. The personinserts base 50 of umbrella 52 through container 12. Securing members16A-D are secured (e.g. turn along threads of screws etc.) to base 18.If only one securing member 16A-D is used to hold base 50 in position,the securing member 16A-D pushes against a first side of base 50 until asecond side of base 50 contacts either an inner wall of container 14 ora protruding member (not shown) extending from the inner wall ofcontainer 14. Securing members 16A-D directly contact and securely holdbase 50 of umbrella 52. By securing base 50 in place, a person mayperform a multitude of tasks without holding base 50 of umbrella 52 withhis or her hands.

FIGS. 2A-2B depict umbrella holder 100 that includes an automaticumbrella positioner coupled to container 12 and temporarily coupled tobase 50 of umbrella 52. Automatic umbrella positioner 200 includes apower source 205 (e.g. a battery), control module 210, a positiondetector 220, an umbrella 50, and an umbrella positioner 240. Powersource 205 supplies power to control module 210 and to umbrellapositioner 240. The person signals control module 210 via a push button(not shown) connected to container 12 to indicate a desirable positionfor umbrella 50. Position detector 220 (e.g. strain gages, gyrometeretc.) then determines whether umbrella 230 has significantly moved fromits desired position. In one embodiment, a significant move is definedas umbrella 230 moving greater than 5 percent (%) along the X or Z axisfrom the original position. If a significant move has occurred, positiondetector 220 signals control module 210 indicating that umbrella 230 hassignificantly moved from its original position. Control module 210signals umbrella positioner 240 to reposition umbrella 230. Umbrellapositioner 240 (e.g. an actuator such as a stepper motor actuator etc.)repositions umbrella 50 back to its original position by moving at leastone or more securing members 16A-D.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary position detector 220.Position detector 220 includes a strain gage 250, a power source 205,voltmeter 254, and resistors R1, R2, and R3. Strain gage 250, coupled tobase 50 of umbrella 52, converts mechanical motion into an electronicsignal. A change in resistance is proportional to the strain experiencedby strain gage 250. If a wire is held under tension, it gets slightlylonger and its cross-sectional area is reduced. Reducing thecross-sectional area of the wire changes its resistance in proportion tothe strain sensitivity of the wire's resistance.

Typically, R2, the rheostat arm of the bridge is set at a resistancevalue equal to the strain gauge resistance with no force applied. R1 andR3, the two ratio arms, are set at a resistance value equal to eachother. Therefore, with no force applied to strain gauge 250, the bridgeis symmetrically balanced and voltmeter 254 indicates zero volts,representing zero force on strain gauge 250. As strain gauge 250 iseither compressed or tensed, its resistance decreases or increases,respectively. When strain gage 250 is compressed or tensed, the bridgebecomes unbalanced. Voltmeter 254 then produces a high or a low voltagesignal to control module 210. In this embodiment, a high voltage signalindicates umbrella 50 should be repositioned along the Z-axis and a lowvoltage signal indicates umbrella 50 should be repositioned along theX-axis.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of a method of securely positioning and anumbrella. At block 300, at least one securing member is coupled to acontainer. The securing member is configured to directly contact a baseof an umbrella. At block 310, a flexible strap is coupled to thecontainer. At block 320, an automatic umbrella positioner is coupled tothe umbrella and the container. At block 330, the automatic umbrellapositioner repositions an umbrella when the base of the umbrellasignificantly moves from its position.

Skilled artisans understand that alternative embodiments may beimplemented. For example, while position detector is depicted as aquarter bridge (i.e. single gage) in which the strain gage is connectedinto a Wheatstone bridge circuit, position detector may also include acombination of four active gages (i.e. full bridge), or two gages (i.e.half bridge). Additionally, the portable umbrella holder may becomprised of nonconductive material such as a polymer. Nonconductivematerial prevents current from passing through the portable umbrellaholder during inclement weather that may produce lightning. In anotherembodiment, the conductive portable umbrella holder may be combined witha nonconductive umbrella. A nonconductive umbrella is comprised ofradial arms for supporting a water-resistant cover material and a basethat extends from the center at which the radial arms are joined. Thedescription of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus,variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention areintended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations arenot to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

1. A portable umbrella holder comprising: a container; at least onesecuring member coupled to the container, the securing member configuredto directly contact a base of an umbrella; and a flexible strap coupledto the container and adapted to strap to a person's torso.
 2. Theumbrella holder of claim 1 wherein the container includes a first endand a second end, the first end includes a first aperture to receive ahandle of the umbrella.
 3. The umbrella holder of claim 2 wherein thesecond end includes a second aperture to receive the handle of theumbrella.
 4. The umbrella holder of claim 3 wherein the at least onesecuring member being coupled to the handle of the umbrella.
 5. Theumbrella holder of claim 4 further comprising a second securing membercoupled to the container and to the umbrella handle.
 6. The umbrellaholder of claim 3 wherein the container being inflexible.
 7. A portableumbrella holder comprising: a container; at least one securing membercoupled to the container; a flexible strap coupled to the container; asensor coupled to the container and to the umbrella; a control modulecoupled to the container; and an actuator coupled to the control moduleand to the at least one securing member.
 8. The portable umbrella holderof claim 7, wherein the sensor being one of a gyrometer and a straingauge.
 9. The portable umbrella holder of claim 7, wherein the sensorsignals the control module a first position of the umbrella.
 10. Theportable umbrella holder of claim 7, wherein the sensor signals thecontrol module a second position of the umbrella, the second positionbeing substantially different from the first position.
 11. The portableumbrella holder of claim 7, wherein substantially different beingdefined as greater than 5 percent (%) from one of an x-position and aZ-position.
 12. The portable umbrella holder of claim 10, wherein thecontrol module signals the actuator to adjust the securing member inorder to place the umbrella into a second position.
 13. A method ofpostioning an umbrella comprising: coupling a container to a flexiblestrap; coupling at least one securing member to the container; couplingan automatic umbrella positioner to the container and a base of theumbrella; repositioning an umbrella when the base of the umbrellasignificantly moves from its original position.
 14. The method of claim13, wherein the automatic umbrella positioner includes a positiondetector.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the position detector isone of a strain gage and a gyroscope.
 16. The method of claim 14,wherein the automatic umbrella positioner detects a significant motionby the umbrella.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein significant motionbeing a move greater than 5% from an original position to a new positionof the umbrella.
 18. A portable umbrella holder comprising: a container;at least one securing member coupled to the container; a flexible strapcoupled to the container; a sensor coupled to the container and to anonconductive umbrella; a control module coupled to the container; andan actuator coupled to the control module and to the at least onesecuring member.